As her mother turned to point the Women’s Militia in theright direction, Elizabeth gave Hester a quick hug.
“You better marry my brother,” she ordered. “I alreadyconsider you a sister.”
On the way out the kitchen door for the house, her mothergave Hester a look as if to say I told you so.
Marry Rob. Well, that was a choice Hester would have tomake, if it were offered.
~~~
“Think, Chalder,” Rob urged as the lander shoved him towardthe path to the ship. “If your captain kidnaps a peer of the realm, none of youwill ever escape. You’ll be hunted down and hung.”
“I’ll take my chances,” the smuggler said. “The others mayhave seen me, but it’s your word that would have me convicted. If you’re notaround to tell anyone, all the better for me.”
Rob was wracking his brain for a way to escape when theglass-paned doors of the dining room burst open, and Hester rushed out into theyard.
Rob’s heart leaped to his throat, and he jerked away fromthe lander. The other smugglers rallied, heading toward her. He’d never reachher before they surrounded her.
He didn’t have to. Behind her streamed the members of theWomen’s Militia, staves up and voices raised in challenge. With them cameBascom, armed with a rolling pin; Lord Featherstone and Elizabeth with theirswords; and Eckman and Monsieur Antoine with cleavers in their grips. As ifemboldened by the sight of them, his coachman and grooms came pouring out ofthe stables to join them, and Donner popped out of a bush at a run.
The remaining smugglers took one look at them all and fled.
Chalder grabbed Rob by the scruff of the neck with one hand,pistol in the other, and stood his ground. “Go back to the house,” he toldHester’s army, “or his lordship dies.”
“Leave him alone!” Hester ordered, and his staff convergedon the lander. Around them, he spotted others chasing the smugglers down thehill.
Chalder aimed the pistol at Bascom, switched to Eckman, thendropped the gun entirely as Monsieur Antoine, face florid and mustacheflourishing, raised his clever at the fellow. Eckman grabbed the lander and marchedhim off to be secured in the stables until the magistrate could be called.
Hester threw herself into Rob’s arms. “Are you all right?”
With her held close, the world seemed right at last. “Neverbetter.” He leaned back to smile at her. “Did you and your friends just subduea vicious smuggling ring that has evaded even the authorities?”
She glanced around to where the women were rounding up thesmugglers on the lawn. “I suppose we did. Who would have guessed?”
“I would,” Rob assured her. “You are one of the most capablewomen I know, Hester. You give children knowledge for a better future. You helpyour family, your friends. You point me in the right direction, guide me on thebest path.”
Her sweet lips trembled. “If I have done all that, I am glad.”
He tucked her close once more, relishing the feel of heragainst him. “So, when this is over, what shall we do next? Ride for Weymouthand berate the Excise Office for its shocking lack of foresight to allowsmugglers to roam unimpeded?”
Hester shook her head, hair tickling his chin. “You forget,sir. My brother is employed by the Excise Office. I assure you he workstirelessly to stop smugglers.”
“Then, in deference to your brother, I will do no more thanwrite a scathing letter to the king about the matter,” Rob told her. “That’swhat viscounts do, apparently. Write letters. Sign papers.”
She must have heard the frustration in his voice, for sheleaned back and stroked a hair from his forehead, the touch warm. “You wouldnot find Weymouth all that interesting in any regard. Far too proper. Even theking bathes there on occasion.”
He chuckled. “I’ve always wanted to see the king bathing.”
“That I doubt,” Hester said, but she joined his laugh. “Andif bathing interests you so much, I’m sure Jesslyn would be delighted toinclude you when next they take the bathing huts out into the cove. Iunderstand it’s very bracing.”
Rob kept his gaze on Hester. “I’m game if you are. I imagineyou look rather fetching in a bathing smock.”
She blushed. “Ladies and gentlemen bathe separately, sir.The position of the huts prevents them from seeing each other.”
“I’m sure I could convince someone to reposition the huts,”he mused.
“You should not,” Hester scolded.
“You see?” he challenged. “Keeping me proper, just as I said.”
“Well,” Hester countered, “someone should.”
He braced his hands on her hips. “And I wish that someonewould always be you. I love you, Hester.”
She sucked in a breath, eyes widening. “What did you say?”
He raised his voice, determined that everyone should hear adeclaration that had been too long in coming. “I said I love you. You wouldmake the perfect viscountess. Will you marry me?”
Passing with a smuggler in hand, Bascom grinned. The womenclosest to them dropped their weapons to applaud. Mrs. Tully gave him twothumbs up.
His beautiful love merely stared at him.
“Hester?” Rob swallowed, throat suddenlytight. “Am I wrong about your feelings? Do you care nothing for me after all?”
More of her army wandered closer. Her mother nudged Hester’sshoulder. “Answer him, Hester. He’s asking you to marry him.”
“I believe he is considered quite the catch,” LordFeatherstone put in kindly.
“You could well be the making of him, Mrs. Todd,” Donneragreed.
“Tell him yes,” Elizabeth begged.
Hester straightened away from him, and a hush fell. Rob feltit to his toes. He was too late. He wasn’t the man she wanted after all. Shewas going to refuse him.
Chapter Twenty
They were all watching her, ready tooffer suggestions. Hester didn’t need anyone’s advice. She didn’t need anyone’spermission. She knew what she wanted. Once, she and Rob had been all about theexcitement of illicit romance. Now their feelings were based on somethingstronger, more enduring: friendship, trust. Love. This was her choice.
“I care for you far more than is wise,” she told Rob. “And Ihate imagining the future without you in it. So, yes,
